St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-30
LET'S TAKE A SWIM.
A Few Words That May be of
Value to Swimmers.

A Few Words That May be of
Value to Swimmers.
1t is nearly time for the lovers of
aquatic sports to begin active work,
and none is more popular with the
athletic members of the community
than the useful and graceful art of
swimming. Ever since the days when
Leander swan the Hellespont, although
the distance covered was scarce three
miles, poets and historians have sung
the praises and recorded the deeds of
daring swimmers all over the world
With EngiiShmen the sport is almost
or other elements of classical educa-
ton, and naturally they have become
famous throughout the world for their
featS i'll and out of the water. In
America, too, this sport has become
favorite pastime, although it is not con-
Sldered necessary to send a boy to col
lege to make a swimmer of him, but
convenient pond, lake or river is gen
orally seized upon by the average small
boy in which to stretch himself i'll puriS
naturaliuS, ard learn to dive, float,
throw s0merSaultS and perform other
like featS of strength and endurance
But for its uncleanly waters and the
shoalness of the Mississippi in this
vicinity it would be very desirable
place for the youth of st. Paul, but they
are driven for comfort to the outlying
lakes when they want to take dip and
keep themselves in good swimming
trim. Probably the most popular resort
for this purpose is White Bear lake,
from ten to twelve miles distant from
this city and where during the warm
season myriads of amphibiously dis
posed bipedS congregate and strive to
Guido each other in the water.
One of the leading spirits in this COM
mendable rivalry is W. ID. G. Smith, of
the MatoSka club, which has its head
quarters at the lake, and it is not an I'M
usual thing for him to swim from Dell
wood to Manitou and return without
resting, a distance of one and a half
which he claims will enable a person to
swim further than by any other, is what
is known as frog fashion. In this the
breast is kept down, head thrown well
back. elbows close to the chest, arms
tieXed with the hands downward, knees
drawn up but spread apart, and SOleS of
the feet directed outward. All the
strength of the swimmer is thus utilized
in forcing himself forward, and very lit
tie force is necessary to keep the head
out of water for breathing purposes.
For swimming fast without much at
tention being paid to the distance,
probably the best stroke is what is
termed overland. In this the swimmer
lies on his left side with the left arm
thrust as far forward as possible, and
his right doubled so that the hand rests
near the breast. Plunging forward. the
swimmer kicks frOglike with both legs,
describing almost circle with his left
hand. This draws him forward, and at
the same time lifts his head out of the
water. Without losing any Roadway
the right arm is swung through the air
so that the hand passes a little above
the face, then, buried in the water, it is
drawn sweeping backward past the
lower part of the left ribs and finishes
little below the hips. During the opera
ton the head is out of sight in the water,
but when the left arm makes it's reach
the head is lifted clear, enabling
the racer to breathe free. By
merely turning up his chin he
will not have to exert much
force, and thus impede his progress.
This style was introduced here bv Eng
fish racers, and it is only acquired after
very close attention and practice. and
few amateurs make any effort to accom-
pliSh such a movement, but stick to the
frog fashion instead.
Dog fashion is probably the simplest
form OF swimming eSSayed by begin
nerS, and consists in merely beating the
water with the hands, after the manner
of quadruped, but it is very tireSome
and is discarded as soon as some easier
system is learned by the swimmer. The
body is kept submerged, but the motion
of the hands keeps the head and a part
of the chest always out of water, but
the stroke is not very desirable for
either long distance or speed. Right
here it would probably be not amisS to
give pointer about the eXertion nee
eSSary to keep at1oat when in the water.
If person is not an adept in the art of
swimming and should be cast overheard
at any time, let them try and turn over
on the back and by simply keeping quiet
and moving the thumbs or hands, they
can keep atiOat until assistance reaches
them. Don't, under any circumstances,
struggle or kick in the water, as the ten
dency of such movement is to force
the head under and induce Strangula-
ton. 1t may be like carrying Goals to
Newcastle to give advice to boys about
swimming, for some of them take to the
water naturally like ducks, and soon
acquire pIOhCltuCy Ill Styles tIldU UU6y
originate themselves, but either of the
systems mentioned above are within
the reach of all who want to become
good swimmers. Another expert and
long distance swimmer of st. Paul is III.
o. Patterson, a clerk in the Office of the
Manitoba Railroad company, among
whose accomplishments in the water, it
is said, is that of swimming around
White Bear lake, and he has frequently
covered five miles at a stretch, alternat-
ing between the overland stroke and
padding, as it is called, while Oh his
back.
Attorney H. d. Lang, an athletic
young fellow of this city, ranks among
the first swimmers of St..Paul, as does
ID. A. Gray, who is well known in rail-
road circles. Some of the members of
the boat clubs OH the island between
ST. Paul and West st. Paul occasionally
take a splash in the river, but in such
cases they protect themselves with bath
ing suits and wear skull caps to keep
the sawdust and other rubbish out of
their hair. 1t is hardly possible that
the temperature of the water will permit
of swimming yet but in the course of a
couple of weeks the lakes in this region
will be pretty well pre-empted by swim
merS.